Question

Could you give a reference and Arabic text for this narration?

The Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “It was difficult for us to memorise the words of the Quran but easy for us to act by them. After us will be people for whom it is easy to memorise the Quran but hard to act by it.”

 

Answer

Imam Qurtubi (rahimahullah) has cited this narration with the chain of Abu Bakr Al Ambari (rahimahullah).

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “Memorising the Quran was difficult for us but practising upon it was easy. After us will be people for whom memorising the Quran will be easy but practising upon it will be difficult.”

(Tafsir Qurtubi; Al Jami’u Li Ahkamil Quran, vol. 1 pg. 69, Risalah edition)

 

The narration is suitable to quote.

 

Arabic text

قال عبد الله بن مسعود: إنا صعب علينا حفظ ألفاظ القرآن، وسهل علينا العمل به، وإن من بعدنا يسهل عليهم حفظ القرآن، ويصعب عليهم العمل به

 

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar